Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: JW_Halverson on January 04, 2014, 12:34:33 am

Title: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: JW_Halverson on January 04, 2014, 12:34:33 am
(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo100/JW_Halverson/Bows/Fnake%20skined%20osage/SAM_0102_zpscb1e9c13.jpg) (http://s365.photobucket.com/user/JW_Halverson/media/Bows/Fnake%20skined%20osage/SAM_0102_zpscb1e9c13.jpg.html)


(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo100/JW_Halverson/Bows/Fnake%20skined%20osage/SAM_0103_zps06a18b59.jpg) (http://s365.photobucket.com/user/JW_Halverson/media/Bows/Fnake%20skined%20osage/SAM_0103_zps06a18b59.jpg.html)

I didn't think the copperhead pattern showed up all that well over the yellow wood, so I used a fine line pigmented marker to define the pattern a little.  Really pops now. 
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: willie on January 04, 2014, 12:42:40 am


 looks nice, what's it made of,
 animal, vegetable or mineral?
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: JW_Halverson on January 04, 2014, 01:01:46 am
There are a couple or retailers selling this snake patterned fabric.  It comes in copperhead or in prairie rattler.  I got this thru one of the retailers that advertises here on Primitive Archery and their magazine, 3Rivers Archery.
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: osage outlaw on January 04, 2014, 01:06:39 am
Looks great.
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: Don Case on January 04, 2014, 01:35:16 am
Does the fake backing add any protection? Silk would be nice.
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: Weylin on January 04, 2014, 03:15:26 am
tinkering job well done! That looks sharp.  8)
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: Bowman on January 04, 2014, 05:28:37 am
Looks great. Better than the original. Very good idea. :-)
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: iowabow on January 04, 2014, 07:14:31 am
That looks really great!
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: 4dog on January 04, 2014, 09:05:05 am
man im about to be unpopular but here goes...the black makes it pop yes..but it now looks too ..ummmm....fake...try some faint white outline next to the black ...that might make it more.."realistic" ...maybe.
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: Easternarcher on January 04, 2014, 09:09:10 am
Thats really nice and exactly what I wanted to see before I tried it on mine...
Did you colour the back under it first? I hear some folks do that to enhance the colour of the fabric pattern.
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: Trapper Rob on January 04, 2014, 09:59:48 am
Looks good JW.
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: Eric Krewson on January 04, 2014, 10:08:27 am
You can do the same with medium brown leather dye and a fine brush like one crests arrows with.

In this case I was camouflaging the splice of two short skins. While I was at it I put the same accent on each of the "hour glasses" on the entire bow so all the skins appeared to match.

I first put a thin line on the edge of the hour glass, next I used a dry brush to blot the line away from the edge of the pattern and fade it into the center of the pattern. This is an artist's technique know as...... "dry brushing", who would have guessed?

You do need to keep a little denatured alcohol and a rag on hand to wipe off your goof-ups before the dye dries.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/skinsplice.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/skinsplice.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: Stringman on January 04, 2014, 10:23:04 am
I understand what 4dog is saying about it not looking completely realistic, but I do like the look with the outlined pattern. I have used the same idea in the past to cover up splice lines or holes and it's always a dance between concealing and overdoing. My vote is thumbs up!
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: adb on January 04, 2014, 12:07:57 pm
Nice! Never thought it was fake until you said so.
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: 4dog on January 04, 2014, 01:22:19 pm
if you look at krewsons on the inside of the saddles theres a small faint white outline ...thats what  all coppers have to a certain degree   thats the part i notice anyway.
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: Dean Marlow on January 04, 2014, 01:46:09 pm
Looks good but was wondering can you take the cloth skin off the sides with a flat file like I do real skins? And is it o.k. to use Tru Oil for your finish?
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: Easternarcher on January 04, 2014, 02:19:09 pm
OK, I'm currently doing a test run with a cut-off section on boo...
Do you need to lay a glue layer over top of the fabric as well as between to saturate the fabric?
I'm using TB3
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: paoliguy on January 04, 2014, 03:33:19 pm
I've been wondering about that stuff. That looks pretty realistic. Think I'm going to try it. I'm curious about the finish you use over over it too.
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: JW_Halverson on January 06, 2014, 09:54:21 pm
I used shellac from a can and a cheap paintbrush.  The finish was not up to par, as far as I am concerned.  I sanded it out a little and went over with a spray can of shellac.  Still not up to my preferred standard, either.

I know exactly what you are saying, 4Dog.  Since this fabric won't stand up to anything but the most cursory glance, I was not intending on making it more realistic.  I was just fooling around with making a bow a little more showboat-style.  It also has black horn tips, red fox silencers on the strings, and a couple black and red thread wraps on the limbs.  It was more about the BLING, than anything.  Kinda the opposite of my usual tastes.
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: 4dog on January 07, 2014, 01:46:47 pm
dont get me wrong Jdub!!  it looks good,, my eye is just tuned to the little details...which is kinda funny considering i love utilitarian bows...its the curse of dichotomy in me!   lol
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: JW_Halverson on January 08, 2014, 10:05:43 pm
You and I like the same kinda bows, I have noticed, 4dog. You have a refined and excellent taste!  >:D
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: 4dog on January 08, 2014, 11:24:17 pm
yeah..were kinda awesome you and me!    8)
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: Pappy on January 09, 2014, 07:51:42 am
Turned out nice JW.  :)
Pappy
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: ohma2 on January 09, 2014, 11:07:31 am
i advised a friend the other day that i didnt think they would look very good, after seeing your bow i would retract my warning and give them a try myself.
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: Josh B on January 09, 2014, 02:44:55 pm
That certainly does make it pop.  They can be made to look pretty decent from about five feet away.  That's way closer than the rest of my finish work would bear scrutiny.  When I put em on, I use tbIII to stick em down and then put a few coats of watered down tbIII over the the cloth to get a good saturation.  I use a flat file on the edges, but you have to continually redope the edges to get a clean edge.  After that dries, I use spray poly and lightly sand it it every fifth coat or so until the weave of the cloth is filled in.  Here's a hackberry with that treatment.  Josh
Title: Re: Fake Snake backing with a little extra push
Post by: iowabow on January 09, 2014, 04:23:41 pm
Wow that is very nice josh